2000 Toyota CELICA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
106 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
68,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 39 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 106 complaints (14.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 13.2% |
| Braking behavior | 11 | 10.4% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 8.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 3.8% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 15 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 9 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 8 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 15; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 9; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 8; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 8; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Air Bags: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 67 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 15 |
| 2001 | 18 |
| 2002 | 10 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2000: 15; 2001: 18; 2002: 10; 2003: 14; 2004: 9; 2005: 6; 2006: 2; 2007: 5; 2008: 4; 2009: 5; 2010: 8; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 14 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10003092 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)
FRONT HEADLIGHT SEALS HAVE FAILED ON BOTH LIGHTS TWO YEARS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF MY 2000 TOYOTA CELICA GTS. ON OBSERVING OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR I SEE THAT MORE THAN 50% OF THEM HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT NOT COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. BOTH LIGHTS NOW FILL WITH WATER CONDENSATION AT EVERY RAIN AND INTERFERE WITH HEADLIGHT EFFICIENCY.
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003092 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010765 · 2003-03-19 (March 19, 2003)
BELT MAKES A VERY LOUD NOISE. HAD THE BELT REPLACED 3/02-MILEAGE 20K+. NOISE HAS COME BACK AND LOUDER AT 36K. TRIED LUBRICATING, MADE THE NOISE WORSE. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM. DEALER SAYS BELT MUST BE REPLACED AGAIN. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010765 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016281 · 2003-04-21 (April 21, 2003)
MOISTURE IN THE HEADLIGHTS AND SQUEAKING BELT TENSIONER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016281 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020073 · 2003-05-19 (May 19, 2003)
THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT SECURE THE REAR PASSENGER TIGHTLY. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020073 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023886 · 2003-06-27 (June 27, 2003)
FROM THE DAY OF PURCHASE THE BELT TENSIONER HAS BEEN SQUEAKING. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 10 TIMES. INITIALLY THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY TIGHTENED AND THAT IT WAS FIXED. AFTER ABOUT A YEAR THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE BELT. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY EVER HAVE. AFTER I MOVED TO ST. PAUL I TOOK IT TO A NEW DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A SELF TIGHTENING BELT AND CANNOT BE TIGHTENED. FOR THE PAST 2 1/2 YEARS IT HAS GOTTEN CONSISTENTLY WORSE, AND NO ONE WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ALSO, UPON STARTING, THE CAR BOGS, HAS SOME SORT OF LOSS OF…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023886 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025157 · 2003-06-30 (June 30, 2003)
MY ENGINE IN MY CAR HAS HAD AN OIL SLUDGING AND DISSAPEARING PROBLEM FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS. THE FIRST TIME THEY FIXED IT AND THE SECOND TIME THEY JUST IGNORED IT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025157 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031062 · 2003-08-08 (August 8, 2003)
MY SON WAS SIDESWIPED BY EIGHTEEN WHEELER WHERE HE SPUN AND REGAINED CONTROL OF THE CAR. HE ENDED UP HITTING A LIGHT POLE ON THE FREEWAY AT AN ESTIMATED SPEED OF 40 MPH PLUS. THE CONTACT WAS WITH THE LIGHT POLE WAS IN THE DEAD CENTER OF THE FRONT BUMPER AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031062 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032528 · 2003-08-10 (August 10, 2003)
ON 8/8/03 I BROUGHT MY 2000 TOYOTA CELICA GT-S W/ 33K MILES TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT A-1 TOYOTA, 50 AMITY RD, NEW HAVEN, CT FOR A PROBLEM REGARDING SOME VERY LOUD CONTINUOUS SQUEALING ORIGINATING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY DURING ENGINE IDLE. AT 4:20PM, A SERVICE TECHNICIAN (KEN) CALLED TO INFORM ME THAT A PART CALLED A 'BELT TENSIONER' WOULD HAVE TO BE ORDERED, AND THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THIS PART AND INSTALLATION WOULD BE $485.00. KEN ASKED ME IF I'D LIKE HIM TO ORDER THE PART AND SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, I SAID I'D LET HI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032528 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V455000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder
Reported: 2004-09-17 (September 17, 2004)
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE RECESS RETAINS A RUBBER SEAL RING, WHICH IS LOCATED AT THE END OF THE CYLINDER BODY, AND MAY BE CORRODED DUE TO AN IMPROPER WASHING PROCESS.
Consequence: IN THIS CONDITION, BRAKE FLUID MAY LEAK FROM THE SEAL, OR A SMALL AMOUNT OF AIR MAY ENTER THE MASTER CYLINDER, WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN INCREASE OF VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND BOOSTER. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-888-270-9371.
NHTSA campaign record ↗04V566000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights
Reported: 2004-11-29 (November 29, 2004)
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, 'LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.' THE LUMINOUS INTENSITY OF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMP (DRL) WILL BE MODIFIED TO MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RESISTOR, WHICH WILL DECREASE THE LUMINOUS INTENSITY OF THE DRL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 16, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA campaign record ↗